Some women candidates in the election in Swaziland are
forced to kneel while they address voters. It is to show respect for men, a
local newspaper reported.
The Times of
Swaziland said candidates for the kingdom’s House of Assembly and community
positions at Mayiwane, ‘have been ordered to kneel when addressing the public’.
It said three women did this while addressing voters
at Herefords High School. It published photographs of two of them.
It added, ‘The women had to spend 10 minutes on the
spikey grass while addressing the residents.’
The Times,
the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom
recently renamed Eswatini by absolute monarch King Mswati III, reported, ‘Under
normal circumstances during residents’ meetings held at royal kraals women
often kneel as a sign of respect in the presence of men.’
The newspaper reported that in other areas of
Swaziland women made their presentations standing.
The final round of elections take place in Swaziland
on Friday (21 September 2018). Political parties are banned from taking part. People
ae only allowed to select 59 members of the House of Assembly; another 10 are appointed
by the King. No members of the Swazi Senate are elected by the people.
In the first round of the election (known as the
Primary Election) held on 24 August 44 women compared to 287 men were selected
to go forward to the final round of voting (known as the Secondary Election)
for the House of Assembly, according
to figures released by the Elections and Boundaries Commission.
See also
In Full Public View, On Hand And Knees Student Begs
Swaziland King For Scholarship
Organised
Certainty, Why elections in Swaziland are not democratic
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